Explained | Nicaragua and its current conflict with the Catholic Church

Is Daniel Ortega’s government in Nicaragua targeting members of the Catholic Church?

The story so far: Tensions between Nicaragua and the Catholic Church are once again on the rise after a series of actions taken by the government of Daniel Ortega, the country’s President.

Nicaraguan police detained Priest Oscar Benavidez for unknown reasons last week. Vatican News reported that the pastor was detained by police in Mulukuku municipality, according to a statement released on August 15. Earlier this month, the government also banned seven radio stations belonging to the Catholic Church and launched an investigation against another priest who has been accused of organising “violent groups”, news agency AP reported. Bishop Alvarez of Matagalpa and a few other priests were placed under house arrest on August 4.  

The Nicaraguan police also banned a Catholic procession and pilgrimage in the capital Managua citing internal security reasons, news agency Reuters reported.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - Central America and the Dominican Republic (OACNUDH), the Nicaraguan police raided the parish of Jesús de la Divina Misericordia, in the municipality of Sébaco in Matagalpa on August 1. The raid took place in connection with the closing of the Diocese’s media outlets by the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Postal Services. Police units, which included anti-riot units, reportedly stormed the parish compound to seize broadcast equipment. The priest and other people asked for help through social media, and at least one of the responders – a citizen – suffered a serious eye injury due to police action.

On August 4, the police stopped Bishop Alvarez of Matagalpa from reaching the Cathedral of San Pedro to officiate a mass. The Bishop, along with other priests and a few other people, is reportedly being held at Episcopal Curia in Matagalpa.

According to the police, the priests and members of the Church are inciting people to “carry out acts of hatred against the population, provoking an atmosphere of anxiety and disorder, disturbing the peace and harmony in the community, with the purpose of destabilising the State of Nicaragua and attacking the constitutional authorities”, the OACNUDH flash report said. In January 2022, the European Union placed sanctions on Nicaragua’s police force, electoral body, and President Ortega’s children who are working as presidential advisors, while the U.S. Department of Treasury sanctioned six officials connected with the regime.

In the past, Bishop Alvarez has stressed the need for electoral reform in the country and demanded the release of people he considers “political prisoners”.